The mission of the Optic Nerve Research Center of Maryland (ONRC) is to prevent vision loss from various disorders that damage the optic nerve—the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain—and to restore vision that has been lost due to optic nerve damage.

Drawing showing the pathway of vision from the eye along the optic nerve to the visual cortex

Drawing showing the eye with its major components, including the optic nerve.

Drawing showing the position of the optic nerve head (optic disk)--the only part of the optic nerve that can be seen within the eye.